By Stephen Stirling
Bloomberg delivered sandwiches to the workers at the Department of Sanitation's Queens West Garage, giving a much needed break to several plow drivers in the midst of mandatory 12-hour shifts. The Feb. 14 storm, originally predicted to be a predominantly rain event for the city by many weather services, dumped as much of three inches of snow, sleet and freezing rain across the borough.
Sanitation workers worked around the clock to clean up the icy mess and Bloomberg said by noon Thursday all of the city's more than 5,000 miles of roadways had been plowed at least once, though salt trucks were still working in some areas.
The mayor also noted no major accidents had been reported anywhere in the city since the storm began late Feb. 13.
“For them (sanitation workers) it's routine. I think most of us would view work around the clock in Siberian weather conditions anything but routine, but they do it,” he said. “They did a spectacular job.”
Not everyone was happy with the city's response to the storm, however. Thousands of commuters across Queens woke up to their cars covered in ice and pinned in their spots by passing plows. While chipping ice off her windshield, Cindi Jackson of Bayside said she had spent more than an hour digging out her car.
“I've been out here forever,” Jackson said. “I'm late for work already, and look, the roads still aren't clear.”
Reach reporter Stephen Stirling by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 138.
